This was my first year at D23 and I really didn't know what to expect of the event. My view of conventions has been painted by anime and comic book events giving me specific expectations of an event. However, D23 is a very different type of event and it can't really go by my usual metric. On a 'gut' level it was better than just about every event I have attended this year and in the top tier of the last few years. This is not a Disney-themed comic con, it is something so much better and it is the type of event that makes me wish that more events were handled in this manner. It was far from perfect, but it was so enjoyable the flaws really don't bring down my opinion as they would with other events.

The Anaheim Convention Center is one of my favorite convention locations due to it being close to where I live, but also it is well designed and easy to get around. However, due to some construction it was a little more difficult to find a place to park or maneuver when attempting to get a ride share. This is temporary and next year the center will be bigger with more parking so it is a small price to pay while waiting for the upgrade. Despite the construction there was still a place for the food trucks and more than enough room for the very long entry line. The line was a bit chaotic on the first day, but as days passed the line systems was set up better. This was likely due to the fact that the staff was made up of Disney cast members. It will be amazing to see how efficient things become with more space and easier access once the construction ends when the con comes back in two years.

The main showcase for D23 is their equivalent of a dealer hall. The hall is made up of several booths that feature your expected goods like books, jewelry, and food. However, the hall also has several stages that provide content for those passing by. From interviews with Disney actors to sing-a-longs there was always something going on. One area even featured bands with a fair amount of seating for those who want to take a break and enjoy some music. More than that, there were booths that were just dedicated to showing off movie props and teasing upcoming products. Star Wars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Pixar, and Marvel all had movie/ride centric booths for everyone to explore. There were also photo op locations as well and Uncle Scrooge's coin vault was probably the most bombastic and attention grabbing of all those locations. One of the biggest draws was the Disney Store booth that featured exclusives and hard to find popular items, but unlike most stores it had a line with a long wait to get inside. Even if you hit no panels during your time at the con you can still get more enjoyment out of this hall than you will at almost any other convention out there.

This was not a 'panel heavy' convention, but D23 goes with quality over quantity when approaching panels. There are no 'real' fan panels at this event, everything is handled by Disney and involves Disney staff which makes the panels far more interesting when people actually know what they are talking about. Show focused panels featured the creative staff and had them talk about different aspects of the project. Park related panels were told by historians, imagineers, and park employees. This makes everything more professional than a 'regular' con. The line system has people lining up in a spare room as to not block foot traffic and count is kept to ensure that people do not wait for no reason. One of the really good ideas they implemented was a 'line pass' where a person could check in early for a panel and get a pass that puts them in a special line that goes first. This made preparing for the more popular panels much easier. The only panel that had some negative feedback seemed to be the interactive media panel as the hosts reportedly didn't not seem to know what they were doing. Despite that flub, the panels went well and they were well worth waiting for due to the robust content that was presented by those who know what they are talking about.

One of the things about Disney fans is that they tend to not be elitist or snobby when it comes to their behavior. Even the children at the convention were polite and did not cause any trouble. The convention almost felt like an extension of the park, but instead of being crowded by tourists you instead have a huge crowd of friendly Disney fans. The cosplayers were always up for photos and often drew people into conversations over their costumes. There were plenty of Disneybounders as well, including myself, showing off their favorite series and having a good time exploring the event. The only complaints you really heard were from people in line, but that's par for the course when you have to deal with really long lines. However, once everyone was inside that attitude evaporated and everyone was just happy to be at an event dedicated to the brand they love. This convention may have the best vibe and friendliest crowd of any convention I have attended. It is a reminder of how conventions used to be and an example of how they should be now.

I was quite surprised with how well D23 was run. Despite the long lines and hard to get into panels it never felt like I was being put out. It felt like the staff was happy to be there and the attendees were even happier to be there. I was able to attend some great panels and get some behind the scenes stories from Star vs The Forces of Evil, Gravity Falls, Hercules, and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Not only that, but you can learn about park attractions, you can see upcoming products, and get those hard to find Disney exclusives for the Disney fan in your life. It is difficult to judge this event against other events because it really felt like its own unique event. I am very glad I was able to attend this year and I hope that I will be there in 2019. If anything D23 has revitalized my love of Disney, while most other genre conventions never get me back into their genres. I would recommend this event for anyone who has a love for Disney or camping outside. If you are in the area give it a day and see how you feel. If you are further away it still might be worth checking out if there is someone you've been dying to meet or if you must have all the new Disney news.

This will not be an event that will make everyone happy, but for those who love Disney and their assorted properties this is a great event. You get a taste of a large exposition without feeling crowded to death. More than that, you can learn about all of the major plans for the future of the brand or you can just explore the dealer hall. This event is what you make of it and to me it was a great event that likely can't be replicated. The staff was great and made the event far more enjoyable than other conventions. More than that, exploring the dealer hall hasn't been that much fun in ages. I highly recommend D23, but be prepared for the lines and too much to do in the dealer hall. Before I go, I will leave you with my list and ask you to give my love to the secret Disney menu items.

THE LIST:

1. Seriously, secret foods!

2. Galaxy's Edge

3. RE2: The newest smart phone

4. Packing that lunch

5. Hercules!!!

6. Couldn't see everything

7. Good shoes this time

8. Only bounding, no cosplay

9. Next Bound: Something Video Games

10. Line passes, learn it, live it, love it

11. Yes that was me dancing a jig, why do you ask?

12. A sea monster

13. Missed out on the gaming panel

14. Star Wars Golden Books

15. Thankfully the con was close

16. Meeting up with friends is a plus

17. Note to self: spend more time with Disney fans

18. Pixar Lounge

19. If I have to see that commercial one more time….

20. Didn't pick up anything

21. Disney Coffee?!

22. Relax and learn to love the line

23. I see what I did there

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